Boston Divorce Attorney

Modification & Enforcment

Modification
When the terms of your divorce are unjust, or circumstances have changed, you can petition to modify your divorce decree.  For example, child support or alimony can be adjusted…or the parenting plan can be changed when it is no longer working in the best interest of the minor children.  You will need to show a material change in circumstances, and when you Contact our Boston Divorce Attorneys we will show you what your options are.

Enforcement
Any order issued by the court is effective until modified by the court.  Parents do not have the right to modify any order themselves.  If unanticipated changes of circumstances have occurred so that the amount of support – or portions of the parenting plan – should be changed, a complaint for modification should be filed with the court. Taking the law into your own hands and making unilateral changes is not appropriate.

Failure to follow a court order is a serious matter.  For example, if one parent stops making child support payments ordered by the court, or begins paying less than what the court ordered, there are several options in Massachusetts for enforcement.  A “wage assignment” is a special procedure that allows the court to order an employer to make direct payments to the custodial parent from the wages of the supporting parent.  If the nonpaying parent holds a steady job, this is a very valuable tool. 

As another example, persons with outstanding child support obligations in Massachusetts may be subject to suspension of a professional and/or driver’s license.  The license is not renewable until the Department of Revenue declares the account current.  The names of these individuals may also be released to the public through the media or other means.

Rather than going back to court on your own, you can Contact our Boston Divorce Attorneys or go to our Web site at SupportCollectionAttorney.com